HereWeAre

While global theatres struggle to compete with vertical content and streaming, one independent Sydney stage is thriving with an astonishing 76% core demographic aged 18 to 30. In this exclusive conversation led by Suzy Wrong, we explore Suzanne Millar's deep passion for championing young, diverse voices. As Co-Artistic Director of bAKEHOUSE Theatre and Creative Director of the vibrant KXT on Broad...

Marchánt Davis discovered his passion for acting early, inspired by the magic of movie musicals. On Broadway, he has starred in acclaimed productions like Ain’t No Mo’, The Great Society, and Good Night, Oscar. Beyond the stage, Marchánt has been one of the key contributors to the momentum behind the long-overdue revival of Alice Childress’s work. In this episode, he sits down with friend Francesc...

Hamburg-born actor Steven Adjei Sowah didn't just watch the The Lion King—he lived it. At just eleven years old, he stepped onto the stage for the musical’s German premiere as young Simba, a moment that sparked a lifelong passion for the craft. However, the path to the spotlight wasn't a straight line. Growing up in the impressive shadow of his father, the trailblazing Ghanaian filmmaker Adolphos...

What does it take to lead the future of Asian Australian arts scene? Suzy Wrong sits down with Tessa Leong—director, dramaturg, and Artistic Director of Contemporary Asian Australian Performance (CAAP)—to discuss her leadership in bringing authentic, contemporary stories to the stage through world-class performing arts.

A powerhouse of creativity, Mason Browne is a multidisciplinary designer and scenic artist known for his evocative visual storytelling. For the second instalment of the new Spotlight podcast season, we return to Sydney, where Suzy Wrong sits down with the distinguished First Nations image-maker. The conversation explores their celebrated career and long-held ambition to create a production backed...

Just before the pandemic, Lauren Yee’s CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND—winner of the Horton Foote Prize—ranked among the top ten most produced plays in America. To kick off the second season of the HereWeAre Spotlight podcast, Yee joins fellow San Franciscan Francesca Fernandez to explore the complexities of "Americanism." They discuss how her latest work, MOTHER RUSSIA, marks a return to a communist setting,...

Alex part II

Alex part I

Dino part II

With a career as diverse as it is decorated, multi-award winning artist ⁠Dino Dimitriadis⁠ works across theatre, music, dance, film and fashion. Having twice received Sydney Theatre Awards for Best Director (Angels in America and Metamorphoses), they sit down with Suzy Wrong for a candid conversation about the state of Australian theatre today.

Suzy Wrong sits down with one of the hardest working artists in Sydney, actor and Artistic Director of Outhouse Theatre Co, Jeremy Waters. Outhouse focuses on daring, contemporary international plays. The company has produced Sydney premieres of works by playwrights such as Annie Baker, Samuel D. Hunter, David Ireland, Nina Raine, Will Arbery and Jonathan Spector.

Filipino-Australian playwright Jordan Shea talks about bringing Filipino stories to the stage and his landmark world premiere of ⁠MALACAÑANG MADE US⁠, the Queensland Premier's Drama Award 2025 directed by his frequent collaborator Kenneth Moraleda.

Award winning Filipino-Australian writer Jordan Shea catches up with his longtime friend Suzy Wrong about his recent surprise career choice starring in a musical, questioning his neither-nor mixed race identity and the upcoming landmark world premiere of MALACAÑANG MADE US at Queensland Theatre.

The iconic, multi-award winning artist Sheridan Harbridge originated the role of Tessa in Suzie Miller's internationally acclaimed PRIMA FACIE in which she earned Best Actress at the Sydney Theatre Awards for her performance. She won the same award last year for her portrayal of Blanche Dubois in A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. She opened up for the first time to Suzy Wrong about how taking on those dem...

After starring in S. Shakthidharan's COUNTING AND CRACKING, a celebrated production which has been staged in various cities around the world, Shiv talks about his excitement of taking on another leading role of Shakthidharan's THE JUNGLE AND THE SEA as part of Belvoir St. Theatre's 2026 season.

One can describe Shiv Palekar's career in many words but type-cast has never been one of them. He is a true inspiration for many mixed-race and non-white actors of his generation and those that will come after him. A world citizen artist with movie star good looks, Shiv talks to Suzy Wrong about how he navigates his journey which comes at a cost - from coping with anxiety to the heartlessness of t...

Writer/Director Declan Greene continues his talk with Suzy about the remounting of award-winning playwright Dylan Van Den Berg's WHITEFELLA YELLA TREE at Sydney Theatre Company.

Artistic Director Declan Greene stops by to chat with Suzy Wrong about the exciting new season of Griffin Theatre Company's 2026 residency at Belvoir St. Having been without a home due to the renovation of its historic Stables Theatre, Declan continues to make his mark with bold and boundary-pushing programmes. Griffin is the only theatre company in the country exclusively devoted to new Australia...

One of the leading new generation of First Nations artists, Ian Michael acts, writes and directs. After an incredible season Down Under, directed four shows on four major stages, he is now heading to London to assist Kip Williams for the much anticipated production of Dracula starring Cynthia Erivo.

Chosen as the right-hand man to Kip Williams' Olivier and Tony Award winning production of The Picture of Dorian Gray and the upcoming Dracula starring Cyntia Erivo, First Nations director, writer and performer Ian Michael has been making waves of his own directing thought-provoking shows around Australia. Ian stops by to chat to Suzy Wrong on his day off between rehearsals of the upcoming world p...

Wiser beyond his years - Raj Labade, one of the most prominent rising stars on Australian stage and screen, is well aware of how lucky he's been with his acting career. Currently starring in the world premiere of Joanna Murray-Smith's adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr Ripley at Sydney Theatre Company, he talks to Suzy Wrong about Eurocentric drama school and having Nicholas Brown...

From TV dramas to sassy, powerful pop songs, from children television to angry black people's plays, the multi-talented artist Zindzi Okenyo is fast becoming one of Australia's leading theatre directors. During their first ever sit-down chat, Zindzi ​talks about her upcoming directorial work at Melbourne Theatre Company.

Actor, director and musician, Zindzi Okenyo is a trailblazer when it comes to championing works by black writers - both as a performer and a director. She opens up to Suzy Wrong about finding her roots and paving the way for people of colour in the performing arts industry in Australia and beyond.

Suzy Wrong continues her seriously fun chit-chat with award-winning lighting designer Brockman. Brockman upcoming projects include: Annie Baker's CIRCLE MIRACLE TRANSFORMATION at Sydney Theatre Company Melanie Tait's HOW TO PLOT A HIT IN TWO DAYS at Ensemble Theatre Sam Shepard's TRUE WEST at Ensemble Theatre

One of the most sought-after lighting designer in Sydney, Brockman is a storyteller who believes in collaboration where ideas are shared and shaped as a team. Chatting to their long-time friend, Suzy Wrong, about mentorship for young creatives to gender identity, in episodes 2 and 3 of our podcast, we shine a spotlight on this prolific designer.